Licences & permits
Approvals for environmental licences and permits can be obtained from federal, state and local environmental agencies, and the type of approval you need will depend on the jurisdiction and type of your business activity.
If your activity or action is likely to impact on areas of national environmental significance, you can obtain licences and permits from the federal Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. These include areas requiring special protection such as world and national heritage sites, wetlands, habitats of threatened or migratory species, federal marine areas and nuclear actions.
If your activity is likely to impact on the local environment, such as parks, heritage sites, air and water, you can obtain licences and permits through your state or local governments.
You should also be aware that importing or exporting wildlife products, hazardous waste, ozone-depleting substances or synthetic greenhouse gases may be restricted by quarantine and will require special approval through the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
What to do...
- For more information on federal environmental approvals, permits and licences, visit the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Permits, licences and approvals page.
- See our Importing and exporting topic for more information on importing, exporting and quarantine controls.
- Use the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts' Protected Matters Search Tool to see if there are areas of national environmental significance near you.
- Contact your local Business Licence Information Service to find out which licences and permits apply to you.
- Find Environmental safety and management related online forms through our GovForms website.
- You can contact your council for information on local environmental licences and regulations. Search our Directory of government and business associations for your council's contact details.
- Find out about environmental licences and permits in your state or territory.
